Electrolytic cell.



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ELECTROLYTJOCELL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, I910.

1 ,17 ,501 Patented Apr. 11,1916.

1. Va f Mums nuns m Limo. msmnmm nrc UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

-HOWARD M. DU BOIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 PLNNSYLVANlA SALT,

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Application filedApril 11, 1910. Serial No. 554,604.

To all vhom it may concern I Be it known that I, How'nnn M. DU BOIS, acitizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at' Detroit, in the county of lVayne.

and State of Michigam'have invented certam new and useful Improvements1n Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specifica on,reference being had therein to' cathode liquor is constantly removed.Low

electrical resistance and high etliciency is maint ined by providing anoverflow com munication between the anode and cathode compartments.TlllS prevents the clogging of the cell, due to the filling of the poresof the diaphragm with impurities, and permits the electrolyte to findaccess to the cathode compartment over the diaphragm. The passagewaybetween the two compartments is so formed as to be constantly sealedwith liquid, which prevents the passage of the gaseous products of theelectrolysisther ethrough.

In detail, the cell is composed of a series of segmental metallic platesA, which are bolted or otherwise secured to each other to form acylindrical outer casing, and which also constitutes the cathode.

' B is a non-metallic head-at the bottom of the cell around which theplates A are clamped.

C' is a cylindrical porous -diaphragm formed of asbestos or othermaterial, and extending around the cell adjacent to the inner face 'of'the segment A.

D is a ring of insulating material secured to the upper end'of thediaphragm and extending upwardly therefrom, being preferably flaredoutward, as shown. E and F. are rings also of insulating materialarranged respectively outside and inside of the ring D, leaving a spacetl'ierebetween. The outer ring E rests upon a bearing on the members Aand the inner ring is supported from the outer ring by alaterally-extol]ding flange G.

H is an anode formed of a series of carbons arranged around the cellinside of the diaphragm, their upper ends passing out through a ring Iwhich in connection with a dome-shaped member J, constitutes the coverof the cell. The member J engages the member I, and may have its jointtherewith and with the off-take pipe K sealed with any suitablecement,-said member J also preferably having a depending flange L, whichprotects the cement from the corrosive action of the condensedchlorin'vapor collecting in the dome. I

As has been stated, the diaphragm C is arranged adjacent the inner faceof the segments A. These segments are, however, prod vided withlongit'udinally-extending grooves M, which form channels connecting theupper end of the cell with a channel in an annular member N at the lowerend of the cell. Thus, the cathode surface is greatly increased by thesegrooves, and the free flow of the liquor is permitted.

lVith the construction as described inuse, the electrolyte is fed "intothe anode compartment by a suitable conduit O'which, as shown, entersthe centerof the body'o'f the cell.

the proper adjustment is made, the liquid will flow constantly into theanode com partments. and there will be a constant overflow from theanode to the cathode compartn'ient through the channel formed Therequired pressure for maintaming a flow is produced by a hydrostatic.

Patented Apr. 1.1, ram.

by the rings, E, F and D. The electrolyte,

after passing this channel, flows downward through the grooves M, whereit is still in the electrolytic field intermediate the cathode and theanode. and exchange of ions will constantly take place through'theporous diaphragm, where the supply of liquid is maintained by theoverflow above the diaphragm.

The chlorin gas accumulating in the anode will rise'to the top of thecell, but will not pass through the channel between the rings D, E andF, as these are arranged,

as shown, to form a trap. In the same way,

hydrogen gas, accumulating in the cathode,

Thus, the electrolysis 'will rise into thespace between the rings,

N at the'lower end of the cell.

I cathode.

E and 'F, but is prevented from access to the anode compartment.

The constant inflow of the electrolyte and the overflow above the screenwill cause a constant discharge into the annular channel The liquor thusdischarged mus pass through the entire electrolyticfield and,consequently, it contains a highly concentrate-dproduct of theBlQCtI'OTWSlS.

. Where the cell is employed for electrolyzing chlorin salts, a certainamount of'the hypochlorite salts is always formed, and as this producthas a highly destructive action upon the cathodel'it is desirable toeliminate the same, and this I have accomplished" by passing theoverflow liquid into the path of the hydrogen liberated from the Thehypochlorite will be reconverted into a chlorid before it can injure thecathode.

The formation of the cap or cover of the cellw-ith a separable section Jprevents injury-to the anode incase of gas explosions. It ispracticallyimpossible to always maintain complete separation between the hydrogenand chlorin gases, and where a mixture occurs an eiplosion will follow.In such an event, however, the force of the explosion will merely blowoil the dome-shape cap J Without disturbing the ring I or the anodeconnected thereto.

. What I claim *as my invention is 2- 1. In an electrolytic cell, thecombination with a vertically-arranged diaphragm, of an anode and acathode arranged upon opposite sides of said diaphragm in proximitythereto, means for constantly feeding the electrolyte into the anodecompartment, and a gas-proof liquid communication channel for permittingthe surplus electrolyte to pass over'sa'id diaphragm and flow betweenthe same and the cathode.

' 2. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with a vertically arrangeddiaphragnnof a cathode adjacent said diaphragm provided with a verticalflow channel therebetween, means for liquid communication above saiddiaphragm from one side thereof to the other, and means for preventingthe pas- "sage of the gas through said liquid com- @111 an electrolyticcell, the combination of anannular-diaphragm, an annular cathodesurrounding said diaphragm, and an ulus of insulating material at theupper end of said diaphragm providing a gasproof. means of liquidcommunication on opposite sides of the diaphragm.

5. An electrolytic cell, comprising an annular cathode, an annulardiaphragm adjacent thereto, and a gas-proof seal above said sidesthereof, and an annular channel at the lower end of said cell incommunication with the vertical channels in said cathode.

7. In an electrolytic cell, the combination with a cylindricaldiaphragm, of a cylindrical cathode surrounding said diaphragm andproviding a flow passage therebetween, and a plurality of rings at theupper end of said cell forming a gas-proof liquid communication betweenthe opposite sides of said diaphragm, said rings being formed ofinsulating material.

8. An electrolytic cell, comprising a vertically-arranged anode, cathodeand porous diaphragm therebetween providing a flow passage between thediaphragm and the cathode, a sealed bypass for the electrolyte over theporous diaphragm, and a discharge for the cathode liquor communicatingwith the lower end of the space between the cathode and the diaphragm.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising a cathode, a diaphragm adjacentthereto, and a gas-proof seal above said diaphragm providing liquidcommunication between opposite sides thereof.

10. An electrolytic cell having an annular base ring with a groove orchannel there in for the cathode products, and a cell sup ported on saidring and having a cathode member arranged to discharge into saidchannel, substantially as described.

11. An electrolytic cell having an annular base ring with a groove orchannel therein for the cathode products, and a cell supported on saidring and having a cathode member formed with a plurality of verticalflow channels arranged to discharge into said channel, substantially asdescribed.

12. In an electrolytic cell, a base ring having a vertical openingthrough its central portion and also having an annular groove in itsupper surface, a cylindrical cathode, a cell bottom supported on saidbase, and a supply-pipe for electrolyte extending upwardly through theopening of the base and into the cell, substantially as describedi 13.An electrolytic cell having a diaphragin surrounding the anodecompartment of the cell, and a cathode member surrounding the diaphragm,there being an overflow passage for the electrolyte from the anode tothe cathode compartments of the cell above the upper edge of saiddiaphragm, substantially as described.

14. An electrolytic cell having a diaphragm surrounding the anodecompartment of the cell, a cathode member surrounding the diaphragm,there being an overflow pasage for the electrolyte from the anode tothecathode compartments of the cell above the upper edge of saiddiaphragin,

there being also a-plurality of vertical flow channels between thediaphragm and cathode membcr, and which communicate With said overflow,substantially as described.

15. An electrolytic cell having a diarounding the diaphragm, therebeingnan overflow passage for the electrolyte from the anode to thecathode compartments of the cell above the upper edge of said diaphragm,there being also aplurality of verticalflow channels between thediaphragm and cathode member, whiclrcommunicate with said overflow, andthe base portion of the cell having an annular trough to receive thedischarge from said channels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.V

HOW'ARD M. DU BOIS. \Yitnesses:

Xiznmn Klxsenm, JAMES P. Baum.

Copies of this patent may be obtained an five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner or Patents,

4 Washington, 110.

